Kai Trump found herself at the centre of an online storm this week after sharing snaps from her visit to Augusta National during Masters week.
The 18-year-old granddaughter of President Donald Trump, whose father is Donald Jr, was spotted wandering the grounds of golf’s most exclusive venue on Tuesday.
Two days later, she posted a series of photographs from her trip, including one selfie in front of the famous Amen Corner signpost and another alongside American golfer Bryson DeChambeau and his caddie Greg Bodine.
The images quickly went viral, with fans convinced she’d committed a cardinal sin at the Georgia course.
Kai Trump has come under fire for her selfie, though it appears no club rules were broken
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Augusta National is famously strict when it comes to electronics, with the club’s rules leaving little room for interpretation.
The regulations state that anyone caught carrying a mobile phone will be removed from the grounds and permanently banned from purchasing tickets in future.
It’s a policy the club takes seriously, as 1989 Open champion Mark Calcavecchia discovered recently when he was reportedly asked to leave after being found using his phone.
When Golfweek contacted Calcavecchia about the incident, he refused to confirm or deny what happened, saying only: “I’ve got nothing negative to say about Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, so I think we should literally hang up right now.”
But here’s the thing – Kai didn’t actually break any rules at all.
It turns out she was using a digital camera rather than a mobile phone, and that makes all the difference.
According to the official Masters website, cameras are permitted for still photography and personal use on practice days, which is exactly when Kai visited the course.
So despite the furious online debate, the president’s granddaughter is completely in the clear.
Golf.com reporter Claire Rogers also pointed out that some people are allowed phones on site, with the club providing special stickers for those with permission.
While Kai won’t have upset anyone at Augusta with her photographs, her grandfather faces a rather different situation when it comes to the prestigious club.
Kai Trump and her grandfather Donald Trump have long been close | PA
Despite being President of the United States, Donald Trump himself is unlikely to ever secure membership at the Georgia venue.
Legendary golf coach Butch Harmon, 82, suggested Trump’s personality simply doesn’t fit the Augusta mould.
“I think he is who he is. He’s full of himself,” Harmon said. “I’ve known Donald pretty much my whole life. What you see is what you get with him. And I don’t think his personality fits the membership at Augusta.”
Harmon noted that other golf-playing presidents like Clinton and Obama never became members either.
